Systematic analysis of protein interaction network associated with azoospermia

Non-obstructive azoospermia is a severe infertility factor. Currently, the etiology of this condition remains elusive with several possible molecular pathway disruptions identified in the post-meiotic spermatozoa. In the presented study, in order to identify all possible candidate genes associated with azoospermia and to map their relationship, we present the first protein-protein interaction network related to azoospermia and analyze the complex effects of the related genes systematically. Using Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, the Human Protein Reference Database and Cytoscape, we created a novel network consisting of 209 protein nodes and 737 interactions. Mathematical analysis identified three proteins, ar, dazap2, and esr1, as hub nodes and a bottleneck protein within the network. We also identified new candidate genes, CREBBP and BCAR1, which may play a role in azoospermia. The gene ontology analysis suggests a genetic link between azoospermia and liver disease. The KEGG analysis also showed 45 statistically important pathways with 31 proteins associated with colorectal, pancreatic, chronic myeloid leukemia and prostate cancer. Two new genes and associated diseases are promising for further experimental validation

Identification of putative drug targets for human sperm-egg interaction defect using protein network approach

Background: Sperm-egg interaction defect is a significant cause of in-vitro fertilization failure for infertile cases. Numerous molecular interactions in the form of protein-protein interactions mediate the sperm-egg membrane interaction process. Recent studies have demonstrated that in addition to experimental techniques, computational methods, namely protein interaction network approach, can address protein-protein interactions between human sperm and egg. Up to now, no drugs have been detected to treat sperm-egg interaction disorder, and the initial step in drug discovery research is finding out essential proteins or drug targets for a biological process. The main purpose of this study is to identify putative drug targets for human sperm-egg interaction deficiency and consider if the detected essential proteins are targets for any known drugs using protein-protein interaction network and ingenuity pathway analysis. Results: We have created human sperm-egg protein interaction networks with high confidence, including 106 nodes and 415 interactions. Through topological analysis of the network with calculation of some metrics, such as connectivity and betweenness centrality, we have identified 13 essential proteins as putative drug targets. The potential drug targets are from integrins, fibronectins, epidermal growth factor receptors, collagens and tetraspanins protein families. We evaluated these targets by ingenuity pathway analysis, and the known drugs for the targets have been detected, and the possible effective role of the drugs on sperm-egg interaction defect has been considered. These results showed that the drugs ocriplasmin (Jetrea (c)), gefitinib (Iressa (c)), erlotinib hydrochloride (Tarceva (c)), clingitide, cetuximab (Erbitux (c)) and panitumumab (Vectibix (c)) are possible candidates for efficacy testing for the treatment of sperm-egg interaction deficiency. Further experimental validation can be carried out to confirm these results. Conclusion: We have identified the first potential list of drug targets for human sperm-egg interaction defect using the protein interaction network approach. The essential proteins or potential drug targets were found using topological analysis of the protein network. These putative targets are promising for further experimental validation. These study results, if validated, may develop drug discovery techniques for sperm-egg interaction defect and also improve assisted reproductive technologies to avoid in-vitro fertilization failure

The effects of antioxidant, butyl hydroxy anisole and polyphosphate on shelf-life of frozen (-180°C) crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus) of the Caspian Sea

Possible effects of antioxidant Butyl Hydroxy Anisole (BHA) and sodium polyphosphate on the shelf-life of frozen Astacus leptodactylus of the Caspian Sea was studied. Samples of the crayfish were dipped in 0.02 and 0.2% BHA and 0.04 and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for 30 and 60 minutes. The control samples were packed without immersion in the mixture of BHA and sodium polyphosphate. The Peroxide Value (PV), Total Volatile Nitrogen (TVN), total bacteria count and organoleptic tests were carried out on the samples using a time schedule. The results showed that the minimum increase in PV for the samples which were soaked in a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for 1 hour were from 0.59 to 0.88 meq/1000g, as compared to the control samples with an increase in the range 0.59 to 3.53meq/1000 g after four months. The PV Value after four month started to be decrease and reached 1.4 meq/1000 grams after sixth months. The results showed that the minimum increase of TVN for the samples which were soaked in a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for I hour were from 12.88 to 17.8 mg/100 grams and for the control samples, the increase was from 12.88 to 19.8 mg/100 grams after sixth month. The results also demonstrated that the minimum increase in Total Bacteria Count of for the samples soaked in a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for 1 hour were from 9 x 103 to 2 x 101 per gram and for the control samples, the count was from 9 x 103 to 7 x 102 per gram after sixth months. Kruskal—Wallis, chi-square and Duncan tests were conducted on five samples for each specific shelf-life time. Using the results, we conclude that immersing the samples into a mixture of 0.2% BHA and 0.4% sodium polyphosphate for one hour gives the best results in terms of shelf-life and organoleptic tests

An investigation on relationship of chemical indices of kilka (Clupeonella engrauliformis) with weight loss during cold storage at -18C

We studied the relationship between physical and chemical properties of frozen kilka with weight loss for packed and unpacked products during storage at amal 8 ' C. Statistical analysis of the results including variance, Duncan test and ANOVA showed relationships existed between changes in Total Volatile Nitrogen (TVN), Peroxide Value (PV), pH, moisture, organoleptic properties of frozen packed and unpacked kilka with product weight losses during cold storage at -18°C. The statistical treatment of the results showed that weight losses for packed samples in comparison to unpacked one at the level of P<0.0I was significant. The weight losses, changes of TVN, PV, pH and moisture losses for unpacked samples were 1.5, 1.35, and 4.5, 132 and 1.32 times more in comparison to the packed one, respectively. Also, the statistical analysis of the results showed a correlation between weight losses in unpacked samples of frozen kilka and the measured factors. The results of chemical and physical properties measured for packed samples of frozen kilka during cold storage and their statistical analysis showed a significant correlation P<0.01 between weight losses and the changes in TVN from 7 to 28mg/100gr, PV from 2.28 to 6.01meq/kg, pH from 6.08 to 6.37 and 1.72% loss in the moisture of the samples. According to these results and the organoleptic tests, the shelf life for packed and unpacked frozen kilka in cold storage at 48°C, is recommended 60 and 30 days, respectively

Outcome of Patients Underwent Emergency Department Thoracotomy and Its Predictive Factors

Introduction: Emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) may serve as the last survival chance for patients who arrive at hospital in extremis. It is considered as an effective tool for improvement of traumatic patients’ outcome. The present study was done with the goal of assessing the outcome of patients who underwent EDT and its predictive factors. Methods: In the present study, medical charts of 50 retrospective and 8 prospective cases underwent emergency department thoracotomy (EDT) were reviewed during November 2011 to June 2013. Comparisons between survived and died patients were performed by Mann-Whitney U test and the predictive factors of EDT outcome were measured using multivariate logistic regression analysis. P &lt; 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Fifty eight cases of EDT were enrolled (86.2% male). The mean age of patients was 43.27±19.85 years with the range of 18-85. The mean time duration of CPR was recorded as 37.12±12.49 minutes. Eleven cases (19%) were alive to be transported to OR (defined as ED survived). The mean time of survival in ED survived patients was 223.5±450.8 hours. More than 24 hours survival rate (late survived) was 6.9% (4 cases). Only one case (1.7%) survived to discharge from hospital (mortality rate=98.3%). There were only a significant relation between ED survival and SBP, GCS, CPR duration, and chest trauma (p=0.04). The results demonstrated that initial SBP lower than 80 mmHg (OR=1.03, 95% CI: 1.001-1.05, p=0.04) and presence of chest trauma (OR=2.6, 95% CI: 1.75-3.16, p=0.02) were independent predictive factors of EDT mortality. Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed that the survival rate of trauma patients underwent EDT was 1.7%. In addition, it was defined that falling systolic blood pressure below 80 mmHg and blunt trauma of chest are independent factors that along with poor outcome

Associations of insulin resistance, sex hormone-binding globulin, triglyceride, and hormonal profiles in polycystic ovary syndrome: A cross-sectional study

Background: Insulin resistance (IR) occurs in 50–70% of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and can be applied as a prediabetic feature in PCOS. Objective: In this study, indirect methods including fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI), FBS/FI ratio, and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were compared with the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as a standard technique. The association of IR to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and several hormones was also analyzed. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 74 PCOS women. Sensitivity and specificity of each IR method was calculated based on HOMA-IR. Hormonal profiles of the patients were compared between the groups with defined normal and abnormal values of IR. Results: Triglyceride levels had a positive association with FBS and HOMA-IR (p = 0.002 and p = 0.01, respectively) with a negative association to QUICKI and SHBG (p = 0.02 and p = 0.02, respectively). SHBG showed a significant negative association with FBS (p = 0.001). Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate showed a positive association with FI (p = 0.002). Seven PCOS women showed abnormal SHBG levels (&lt; 36 nmol/L) while expressed normal values of the rest of the studied variables. FI and QUICKI had the highest sensitivity while FBS/FI and QUICKI had the highest specificity when HOMA-IR was applied as a standard test. Conclusion: SHBG and triglyceride had a significant negative and positive association with IR, respectively. HOMA-IR followed by FI and QUICKI is the most sensitive test for the detection of IR. SHBG levels can be a helpful biomarker for the diagnosis of PCOS. Key words: Polycystic ovary syndrome, Insulin resistance, Sex hormone-binding globulin

Efficiency of Respiratory Index in Determining Short-Term Prognosis of Multiple Trauma Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Being aware of trauma patients conditions and predicting their outcome has always been of a great interest. To determine the state and prognosis of these patients, we should find ways to enable the timely identification of those with poor health and allow the physicians to treat them before the situation gets out of hand. Objectives The present study aimed at evaluating the efficiency of respiratory index (RI) in determining the short-term prognosis of multiple trauma patients in comparison with revised trauma score (RTS). Methods In this cross-sectional study, all multiple trauma patients who were admitted to emergency department (ED) of Shahid Rajaee hospital, Shiraz, Iran, during September and October 2013 were included. Demographic data and data regarding vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, GCS, and oxygen saturation), respiratory tract status, trauma type, blood gases, procedures performed in resuscitation room, and final outcome of the patients (discharge, disposition to general unit, intensive care unit, or operating room, and dying) were recorded using a predesigned checklist. Based on the collected data, RTS and RI were calculated for each patient and their correlation and the final outcome were evaluated. Results Evaluating 187 multiple trauma patients showed that 131 (70) patients had head injury, 78 (42) chest injury, 66 (35) abdominal injury, 49 (26) extremity injury, 27 (14) neck injury, and 4 (2) vascular injury. A significant correlation was seen between RI and RTS (P = 0.024). RTS differentiated patients with good and poor health (P < 0.05), while RI showed no significant correlation with patients short-term final outcome. Conclusions Based on the findings of this study, RI cannot properly estimate short-term prognosis of multiple trauma patients, but it can be used as an independent factor in evaluating the severity of injury

Potential Risk Factors of Death in Multiple Trauma Patients

Introduction: Trauma has been recognized as one of the leading causes of death in many countries for decades. Reduction in mortality and morbidity rate of trauma cases is one of the most important attitudes in this field. Evaluation of different risk factors have been considered as the main goal of some studies. The purpose of this study was determining potential risk factors of death in trauma patients. Method: In a retrograde study, data of 740 patients admitted during three years (2009-2011) were studied. Demographic data (sex and age), clinical factors (blood pressure, pulse rate, respiratory rate, Glasgow coma scale (GCS)), trauma characteristics (location, type of injury, etc.), as well as outcome of patients were evaluated. Data analyses was done using SPSS 18.0. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis was used for recognition of independent predictive factors of death in multiple trauma patients. Results: Of those admitted, majority of patients were male (81.4%), 68% between 18 to 60 years, and 11.2% of them died during the course of treatment. Age; type of trauma; abnormal respiration rate, pulse rate, blood pressure; total GCS ≤8; abnormal pupil size; and head and neck; vertebral, and extremities fractures were obtained as significant predictive factor of death. GCS≤8, head and neck fracture, and abnormal pulse rate were independent death predictors. Conclusion: We identified GCS≤8, head and neck fracture, and abnormal pulse rate as predictive factors of mortality after trauma, which remained independent in the presence of all other factors and potentially treatable

Transition Metal Dopants Essential for Producing Ferromagnetism in Metal Oxide Nanoparticles

Recent claims that ferromagnetism can be produced in nanoparticles of metal oxides without the presence of transition metal dopants have been challenged in this work by investigating 62 high quality well-characterized nanoparticle samples of both undoped and Fe doped (0-10% Fe) ZnO. The undoped ZnO nanoparticles showed zero or negligible magnetization, without any dependence on the nanoparticle size. However, chemically synthesized Zn1-xFexO nanoparticles showed clear ferromagnetism, varying systematically with Fe concentration. Furthermore, the magnetic properties of Zn1-xFexO nanoparticles showed strong dependence on the reaction media used to prepare the samples. The zeta potentials of the Zn1-xFexO nanoparticles prepared using different reaction media were significantly different, indicating strong differences in the surface structure. Electron paramagnetic resonance studies indicate that the difference in the ferromagnetic properties of Zn1-xFexO nanoparticles with different surface structures originates from differences in the fraction of the doped Fe ions that participate in ferromagnetic resonance